To Tarry or to Totter?

I wouldn’t say I exactly procrastinate… possibly lollygag or dally is a better description of why I don’t seem to get things accomplished in the most timely manner.  These words are much more fun to say and truly characterize the true magnitude of my moseying.  “Procrastinate” has such a negative connotation, hurts the ear when said – I think it is that hard “C” in the middle that highlights the declaration of delay – and congers up pessimistic images that one doesn’t have their priorities in proper order.

My allegiance to loitering may be in direct correlation to my aging.  In my younger days I used to be such a “Johnny (or Jane, as the case may be) on the spot”.  I suppose being in the mode of climbing the corporate ladder inspired me to action.  Not content to take a rung at a time, I wanted to leap to the top and was convinced that hard work and perseverance would pay off.  It did and the view from the summit was pleasant enough.  But, if I knew then what I know now, I might have slowed the ascent a bit and frittered away an afternoon or two.

For humans, the act of prolonging the inevitable is a natural force of nature.  One has to really swim upstream to fight off distraction and diversion.  I have found it much easier to wander aimlessly through the rooms of my house than to face a pile of ironing or put clothes away.  Cleaning toilets has been pushed aside in order to go online to EBay in search of a prized (and not much needed) blue martini glass.  I will even resort to exercise and fresh air to defer emptying the dishwasher.  Answer the phone in the middle of writing this column and chat away about insignificant and mindless matter for 45 minutes – you bet!

My child has learned well from the master, he can successfully milk 20 minutes past his bedtime in the most ineffectual manner.  He is much more advanced in the fine art of stalling than I was at his age… I have great hope for him; I see greatness on his horizon.  Just as long as he doesn’t “cross over” to the dark side with justification of lingering, he is on the road to serenity and peace of mind (and some extra time to enjoy it all).

Just to let you know, there has been some major misuse of procrastination in the last few years.  There are those who have chosen to dilly-dally and putter about in a negative light.  Please be wary of these types and do not go there.  They have forgotten that to dawdle is merely a pause in the course of human events and eventually life must continue.  One must learn to look like they are not suspending their personal activity indefinitely; it is a fine art that must be celebrated and enjoyed, but not abused.

Hard to explain to some folk, but life isn’t a race.  There isn’t a finish line where they hand out trophies or cash prizes.  Success and accomplishment have to come from within and I have found that if you don’t take the time and allow your mind to wander a bit (this is the thinking part that is an essential element to procrastination) to find out who you are and where you came from, you may not be headed to where you think, and heaven knows where you may end up.  I have happily justified my procrastination and have put it in the proper perspective for my mental health.  Why rush progress? I ultimately will finish the task at hand, but why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?

Cynthia A. McClelland, curious observer of the obvious with interpretations of the oddities of daily life.  Mother, wife and lover of the furry, resides in the north Lake Tahoe area.

Cynthia A. McClelland © 2003-